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Hey Folks! I have had the the pleasure of hosting a game in my game room (garage) about a week ago and am now just getting around to posting it. This is gonna be a bare bones report as I will be relying on my two buddies: Dennis (Tyranids) and Tyler (Tau) to fill in details such as army lists.

So without further ado, the battle report!

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Tau Army


Tau HQ


Tyranid Army


Tyranid HQ


Army lists to be provided by players. I will say though that the Malefactor was a Tervigon and the Heirdule(?) was a Tyranofex (Dennis was playing my army and I thought those models would be fitting representations)
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Set Up



Pitched Battle. Kill Points, Tau sets up first and Tyranid Seize the Initiative

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Round One

Tyranid Surge Forward while Tyranofex and two Hive Guard offer anti-tank support. Two Biovores launch Spore Mines into the midst of the Tau Line.


The mechanized Tau left flank advances while the Fire Warriors ignore the Hormigaunts and Target the 20 or so Tyranid Warriors coming their way.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Round Two

The neglected Hormigaunts just fail to reach the Fire Warriors in the bunker who are instead bombarded by Sporemines and Death Spitters.


A surprise attack by some flanking kroot on the far right of the board crucially tie up a unit of Warriors. the Kroot die horribly but do their job by slowing the Tyranid advance.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Round Three

After a brutal round of close range fire support the right flank of the Tau have fallen and the remains of the Tau center hunker down behind the central tower.


To a lesser degree the Tau take the opposite side of the board with their mechanized force (with one glaring exception {tyranofex})


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Round Four

The Tervigon creeps closer supported by the delayed Warrior Brood....


The Tau continue to play hit-and-run tactics to try and stall the Tyranid advance.....


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Round Five

And with the game ending after the 5th turn....


8 Kill Points to 8 Killl Points. A Draw

=========================================================================================================

For post battle comments I will hand it over to Tyler and Dennis but as a bystander, this sure was a close and thrilling 40k Game!!!

Thanks for checking out this post and be sure to check back for feedback from Tyler and Dennis.

Aloha!

Thanks for putting up the pics Sol! I'll try to fill in the blanks as best I can. Dennis' army list will be forthcoming as soon as I can get it from him, I'll add it in.
I'm using my entire army plus vehicle and Kroot loaners from our gracious host

On with: Gundam Tau & The Vocaloid Kommandos vs. Tyranid Swarm!

Tau List:
HQ Shas'o in Suit [Cyclic Ion Cannon, Burst Cannon, Target Lock, Stimulant Injector, Multi-Tracker, Gun Drone, Shield Drone]
2nd HQ Shas'el in suit [Fragmentation Projector, Flamer, Multi-Tracker, Target Lock, Shield Drone] (on loan from the Morehammer Sept.)
Suit Team 1 (2x) Leader [Missile Pod, Flamer, Target Lock, Multi-Tracker] #2 [Flamer, Missile Pod, Multi-Tracker]
Suit Team 2 (2x) Leader [TL Missile Pod, Flamer, Target Lock] #2 [TL Missile Pod, Flamer]
Fire Warriors (12x) w/ Shas'ui [Markerlight, Bonding Knife, Target Lock, Pulse Rifle] -Blue Team
Fire Warriors (12x) w/ Shas'ui [Markerlight, Bonding Knife, Target Lock, Pulse Rifle] -Gold Team
Fire Warriors (12x) w/ Shas'ui [Markerlight, Bonding Knife, Target Lock, Pulse Rifle, w/ Devilfish] -Pink Team
Kroot Carnivore Squad (12x)
Kroot Carnivore Squad (12x)
Kroot Carnivore Squad (12x)
Hammerhead [Rail Gun, Burst Cannons, Multi-Tracker, Target Lock, Disruption Pod, Blacksun]
Hammerhead [Rail Gun, Burst Cannons, Multi-Tracker, Target Lock, Disruption Pod, Blacksun]
Sky Ray [Burst Cannons, Multi-Tracker, Disruption Pod]


Tyranid army as follows:

HQ Tevigon [w/ Regen & Catalyst]
Hive Guard (3x)
Biovore (3x)
Tyrannofex [w/ Rupture Cannon & Fleshborer]
Tyranid Warrior (8x) [Barbed Strangler]
Hormagaunt (18x)
Tyranid Warrior (8x) [Barbed Strangler]
Hormagaunt (18x)
Tyranid Warrior (5x) [Barbed Strangler]
Hormagaunt (18x)



Game: Pitched Battle. Kill Points.

I go first, set up my all vehicles on my left, with a FW in Devilfish (Pink Team) -Armored Cavalry. FW's, Kroot and Suits in the middle, one Kroot unit in Reserve.
Dennis sets up the 'Tide, and seizes on a six. Not the way I wanted to start against the 'Nids... -oh well, bring it!
The Tervigon starts hatching out more in front of me (bad), the bulk of the tide start to scream up the front, warriors and hive guards start shooting. I'm making my saves and take some light casualties, not bad. A group of Biovore, warriors, and a guard take up residence in a forrest and start shooting in a frenzy.
My tanks advance forward and launch submunition and missiles into the large nasty group in the forrest. My Shas'o and suit team 1 adding to the high-explosive onslaught. Dennis starts rolling 5's and 6's on his saves, a warrior and biovore go down. This is starting to look like a bad omen for the Tau.
On the other side I run a Kroot unit into a forrest and get them ready for the coming onslaught, Fire Warriors start pouring shots into another large warrior/biovore/guard unit trying to take out as much anti-tank ugliness as possible, one warrior down, the rest save.

Turn 2 rolls around with Dennis using the Tyranofex and now very angry (and saving) warrior/guard group against my Armor. Hammerhead #1 immobalized, Hammerhead #2 shaken. The rest take evasive action. In the middle, the Tervigon screams in agony as the last of it's brood is borne. The other large warrior/guard unit open up and my Shas'el falls under a hail of organic hell. The 'gaunts are still coming but flub a run roll, they're not in my lines yet! But a Biovore takes out a Kroot unit and now my FW's are in trouble, Yellow Team is pinned, Blue Team makes it's saves. The rest of my suits take up positions to ambush the 'gaunts. My now stuck Hammerhead, along with the Devilfish and Sky Ray, fire into the troublesome group still in the forrest while taking position to support the ground troops. One warrior down, the rest all save . In the middle, the surviving Kroot and Blue Team unload into the mess, but to no avail. Suit team 2 jumps on a hill and flames the 'gaunt tide, trying to buy time. My Kroot reserve come onto the board and start attacking, but it looks like a doomed charge.

On Turn 3, the 'gaunt tide flubs another run roll, but are still close enough to eat the suits that just BBQ'd their bretheren. The large force in the forrest takes pot shots at my armor. My surviving suits and HQ w/ Sky Ray support move up to firing positions and get ready. The Kroot that reserved in are now eaten, but not before hacking down a Biovore. The last surviving biovore launches a spore mine, pinning the Blue team, Shas'ui Miku is screaming over the emergency comm. lines for help.
Go For Broke.
For the Greater Good of the Universe, the Tau Warriors break from cover with their Kroot allies and start advancing towards the Tyranid wave. Battle suits and troopers alike open up with everything they have, flamers, missiles, and rifle fire blazing raw Tau power, mowing down 'gaunts and hitting anything else they can. Dennis' warriors SAVE AGAIN. And are now really angry.
This is not looking very good for the Tau.

Turn 4 rolls with the very angry Warriors and guard in the middle plowing through and tearing up Yellow team to nothingness, Blue team is obliterated by concentrated guard and biovore fire, and the last of the Kroot are now eaten. The Tervigon and surviving 'gaunts move towards my Devilfish.
The suits and Sky Ray fall back towards the large tower seeking cover from the carnage. The large group of warriors and guard burst out from the forrest on the other end of the board intent on taking out the hammerhead and transport. Rail guns silence a guard and a warrior, while defensive guns open up on the rest. Inside the Devilfish, Shas'ui Luka looks at her team, "Now." Pink team breaks from their transport and rapid fires the warrior unit, just as the Devilfish starts to take incoming fire. The HQ separates from his other suit team to support the last of the troops. All of the warriors except one go down. The suit team jumps around the tower to flame the last of the 'gaunts. I might actually have a chance to tie up the game at this point.

Turn 5.
The lone surviving warrior turns to assault the closest thing, the Devilfish. Pink Team falls back and rapid fires again. I roll eight ones in shooting.
The bulk of the Tyranids start shooting at the remaining suit team, thankfully they make their saves. My HQ finishes off the Warrior.

The game ends in a DRAW.
I'm tired, let's go home.

Really like that Tau army. Bright, anime-ish volors and gundam battlesuits. Just don't like the big heads on those shas'ui

Crazy big game. Whats with everything in the Tau army having a different color? They don't like uniforms?

wow I am super surprised by the result, after looking at the tau list I thought for sure the nids would eat them. Nice job! Also the army looks great, even if it isn't the most tactically sound!

Thanks guys!
Yes, my army is not exactly uniform.... each FW unit is themed after the team leader.

if you want to see them in all their glory, check them out here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/387478.page

Both my opponent and I are still beginner 40k players.
I really thought I was not going to fare well in this game, especially against nids. the load-outs were not standard, that's for sure. Morehammer's Tyranid army is HUGE. and very diversified, so I went with more options to deal with what ever he was going to throw at me. I'm still surprised that my opponent didn't field a Mawloc and some other nasties, but regardless, it was a very difficult battle. I'm pretty happy that I pulled off a draw

I think the all deathrain route was less then optimal. I would have gone with possibly a MP+BC+MT mix. Kinda odd, but it would afford you a lot more fire, and would probably have done more wounds to those warriors.

Nice pictures and bat rep

I was able to get the Tyranid list from my opponent.
My post with the Tau list has been updated to include the Tyranid list as well.

Warriors are too slow - Nids need to be in on the heavy Tau stuff by T2 if possible. When down to a single warrior, if the Nid player had run away and hidden rather than charge and lose the warrior he would have won 8-7 I think.

Infiltrating stealer list and I don't think it would have been close.

Those armies are both beautiful... I really love the giant Tyranid cannon-scorpion thing... just awesome.

I also enjoyed the armies and laughed at the 'Gundam'. Well painted

Wow I hadn't seen those two old resin models since I did a commission paint job for a pals nids in 98!

The thing you used for the Tyrannofex is called an Exocrine.

And damn do those Capillary Towers look great. I am so glad I recently got two sets of those. I might even get a few more.

I do like the Gundam Tau. I wonder if Char was planning on helping the 'Nids. My one question is how you were working the building the blue FW squad was being played?

BTNeophyte, if I remember correctly, we just kept it as a two-story ruined building that provides cover. We just kept it simple and used it because it looked cool on the table.

Great board!